Method and apparatus for visual navigation of information objects

Abstract

A method and apparatus for organizing and accessing visual objects includes a navigable structure. The navigable structure includes a sequence of one or more levels with each level being a loop of visual objects interconnected by lateral links. The visual objects within a level are interconnected to visual objects within adjacent levels using vertical links. The visual objects within a level may also interconnected to visual objects within non-adjacent levels using hyperspace links. A navigator is provided that allows the user to follow the links included in the navigable structure. At each destination reached by the user, the navigator allows the user to access the visual object.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A navigable structure for visual objects, the navigable structure stored in a memory and comprising: a sequence of one or more levels, each level being a loop of visual objects interconnected by lateral links; and   one or more vertical links, each vertical link forming a connection between two visual objects included in adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels.   
     
     
       2. A navigable structure as recited in claim 1 further comprising one or more hyperspace links, each hyperspace links forming a connection between two visual objects included in non-adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels. 
     
     
       3. A navigable structure as recited in claim 1 wherein at least some of the visual objects include interactive menus. 
     
     
       4. A navigable structure as recited in claim 1 wherein at least some of the visual objects are associated with video information. 
     
     
       5. A navigable structure as recited in claim 1 wherein at least some of the visual objects are associated with graphics information. 
     
     
       6. A navigable structure as recited in claim 1 wherein at least some of the visual objects are associated with online transaction information. 
     
     
       7. A navigable structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the levels are organized to correspond to a chosen theme. 
     
     
       8. A method for creating a navigable structure for visual objects, the method comprising the steps of: creating one or more levels, each level being a loop of visual objects interconnected by lateral links; and   creating one or more vertical links, each vertical link forming a connection between two visual objects included in adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels.   
     
     
       9. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of creating one or more hyperspace links, each hyperspace links forming a connection between two visual objects included in non-adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels. 
     
     
       10. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of downloading the navigable structure from a server computer to a client computer. 
     
     
       11. A method for navigation within a navigable structure of visual objects where the navigable structure includes a sequence of one or more levels, each level being a loop of visual objects interconnected by lateral links, and one or more vertical links, each vertical link forming a connection between two visual objects included in adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels, the method comprising the following steps, performed by a computer system of: initializing a current visual object variable to be equal to a predefined initial visual object;   displaying the current visual object;   receiving an interactive command from a navigator user, the interactive command instructing the navigator to traverse a specified link, with the specified link being a lateral link or a vertical link;   following the specified link;   updating the current visual object to reflect the traversal of the specified link; and   displaying the current visual object.   
     
     
       12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the navigable structure includes one or more hyperspace links, each hyperspace links forming a connection between two visual objects included in non-adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels, and wherein the specified link is a lateral link, a vertical link or a hyperspace link. 
     
     
       13. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the interactive command is input using a mouse or other pointing device. 
     
     
       14. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the interactive command is input using a voice recognition device. 
     
     
       15. A computer program product including a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for navigation within a navigable structure of visual objects where the navigable structure includes a sequence of one or more levels, each level being a loop of visual objects interconnected by lateral links, and one or more vertical links, each vertical link forming a connection between two visual objects included in adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels, the computer program product comprising: a first portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to initialize a current visual object variable to be equal to a predefined initial visual object;   a second portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to display the current visual object;   a third portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to receive an interactive command from a navigator user, the interactive command instructing the navigator to traverse a specified link, with the specified link being a lateral link or a vertical link;   a fourth portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to follow the specified link; and   a fifth portion including computer readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to update the current visual object to reflect the traversal of the specified link.   
     
     
       16. A computer program product as recited in claim 15 wherein the navigable structure includes one or more hyperspace links, each hyperspace links forming a connection between two visual objects included in non-adjacent levels within the sequence of one or more levels, and wherein the specified link is a lateral link, a vertical link or a hyperspace link.